Steve Smith has offered a strong defence of Cameron Green despite the all rounder’s struggles with the bat, but the stand in captain stopped short of guaranteeing him a place in Australia’s XI for the final Ashes Test at the SCG.
Smith said every selection option remains on the table for Sunday’s match against England. That includes the possibility of playing both Green and Beau Webster while leaving out a specialist spinner for the third time in four Tests.
He said the final call will depend on the pitch conditions, adding that the team will decide once they assess the surface.
With the Ashes already secured, Australia’s focus has shifted to collecting World Test Championship points and giving retiring opener Usman Khawaja a winning farewell. Even so, pressure continues to build on Green, the youngest member of the squad.
Green has contributed with the ball throughout the series but has struggled for consistency with the bat. He has averaged 18.7 runs from six innings, with only one score above 24. His top score of 45 in Brisbane was overshadowed by a risky premeditated shot that exposed his stumps and led to his dismissal by Brydon Carse.
Smith, who has experienced his own lean patches, expressed sympathy for Green. He said the batting conditions have been tough, pointing to two Tests that finished inside two days. He noted that Green has managed to get starts but has not been able to convert them, which he described as the most frustrating part.
Smith also acknowledged that Green’s movement around the batting order has made it harder for him to settle into a defined role.
Meanwhile, spinner Todd Murphy’s hopes of playing his first home Test remain uncertain. He was overlooked for the seam friendly MCG pitch and has not played a Test since the Sri Lanka tour in early 2025. Murphy was added to the Ashes squad as cover for the injured Nathan Lyon.
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